The Toronto Raptors have signed guard Norman Powell to a major contract extension. Meanwhile, the Charlotte Hornets are expected to be without key swingman Nicolas Batum following an injury he suffered in the preseason. Lastly, Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel Embiid is finally back at practice with the team.

Norman Powell gets paid by Raptors

League sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski that the Toronto Raptors and shooting guard Norman Powell have agreed to a four-year, $42 million contract extension. The deal starts next year and locks him up with the team, as he was due to become a restricted free agent next offseason.

It also includes a player option for the final season of the deal. The team clearly likes how the 24-year-old Powel has developed after only two years in the league, as he has become a solid two-way player.

The former second-round pick played in 76 games last season and started 18 of them. He averaged 8.4 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 0.7 steals. He also shot 44.9 percent from the field and 32.4 percent on three-pointers.

Hornets' Batum to miss time due to injury

Nicolas Batum got injured in the first minute of the Charlotte Hornets preseason game against the Pistons and had to leave the contest. An MRI later revealed that the veteran had a torn ligament in his left elbow.

League sourced told The Vertical's Shams Charania that Batum will miss eight to 12 weeks because of the injury.

Head coach Steve Clifford said that: “It was one of those kinds of contact/collision plays where his arm got stuck between two guys. He was in a lot of pain.”

Batum is a key player for the Hornets, as he enters the second year of his five-year, $120 million contract with the team. Last year he averaged 15.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 5.9 assists while shooting 40.3 percent from the field and 33.3 percent on three-pointers.

Embiid back at practice

Joel Embiid got cleared to participate in 5-on-5 drills and was finally able to play in a full practice with the Philadelphia 76ers. This is the first time he has done so since he had surgery in March to address a meniscus tear in his left knee.

The team says that they are hopeful their oft-injured big man will be in the lineup for opening night when they take on the Washington Wizards.

If Embiid does play then, it would be his first game since January 27. In 31 games last season he averaged 20.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 2.5 blocks and 0.9 steals while shooting 4.46 percent from the field.
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED